The Kiel-Canal is a German artificial waterway connecting the North Sea with the Baltic Sea. As a general two-way traffic is not possible, a traffic control scheme is needed to handle the restricted encounters (passings or meetings) of vessels. An optimisation algorithm which is able to perform this task has been developed and simulation results archived with this program are presented. Comparison of the computed results with real data shows the algorithm produces very efficient solutions well comparable to real control flow. Based on the findings, future investments in improving and modernising traffic control in the canal have been reconsidered.
Abstract